Why did rival militias remain powerful after the fall of Muammar al-Qaddafi?

After the fall of Muammar al-Qaddafi in 2011, rival militias remained powerful because they refused to disarm or integrate into a unified national force. These groups, which had emerged as autonomous entities during the uprising, were deeply suspicious of the transitional government, particularly due to concerns over the past ties some officials held to the former Qaddafi regime.123

The power of these militias was further entrenched by several factors:

• Lack of Centralized Authority: The transitional government struggled to exert control, and militias—even those nominally aligned with government ministries—often acted independently.13
• Regional and Tribal Divisions: Many militias were organized along regional or tribal lines, leading to frequent violent clashes as they competed for local power and influence.13
• Economic Leverage: Armed groups frequently disrupted oil production, the country's primary revenue source, to exact political and financial concessions from the central government.3

Ultimately, the refusal of these factions to submit to a centralized authority created a persistent state of insecurity, which served as the primary obstacle to establishing a stable, permanent government in Libya.32